Wyoming Arts Council

Kennedy essay in fall issue of Puerto del Sol


A new essay by Laramie’s Jeffe Kennedy, “Hemlock & Mistletoe,” will appear in the fall issue of Puerto del Sol magazine, published by New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Here’s an excerpt from Jeffe’s website:

For the first time in my life, I could not decorate for Christmas. It almost makes me weep to type the words, yet I could not bear to pull out one strand of lights. Once David convinced me to cancel our annual extravagant party, because I was too fragile for the additional pressure of cleaning and decorating and cooking, I had thought I might do simple things as the mood struck me. Perhaps I’d decorate our six-foot bougainvillea with some of the pearl lights our guests admired every year, perhaps add the clear glass balls I bought just a few weeks ago, with an eye towards replacing the tatty gold and red satin ones. But I couldn’t do even that little. Our friends are
understanding of our canceled party – even the ones to whom I’d given invitations already, then reneged. They’re disappointed – “You know your party is the event of my Season,” said one – but supportive. I feel like I’ve let my neighbors down, with our dark house and invisible trees. But all you have to tell people is that your dad – though they may know the relationship hasn’t always been an easy one – is dying and they forgive you any breaches.

But I have a Christmas secret I dare not speak aloud: Leo has chosen to die. He picked out the date.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jeffe is a recipient of a WAC creative writing fellowship and a Blanchan/Doubleday writing award. She’s also featured on the WAC Artist Roster. You can bring her to your community for a reading, workshop or presentation through an Arts Across Wyoming grant. FMI: https://wyoarts.state.wy.us/artistroster0809/artistroster.htm#kennedy


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